12 People Arrested After Stealing $250,000 Truckload Of Frozen Chicken
Stolen chicken used to pay off a drug debt? It's a true barter market in action. Memphis police serving a warrant at an Economy Inn discovered 12 people (some reports cite 13 people) behind the hotel unloading pallets of frozen chicken from a hijacked Koch Foods 18-wheeler. The suspects fled the scene but were all captured.
Memphis police arrested 13 people after catching them unloading more than $250,000 worth of stolen fried chicken from an 18-wheeler behind a motel. Officers also recovered guns, fentanyl and cocaine. pic.twitter.com/fvVDUGB3C1
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 18, 2026
According to a press release, Javunte Johnson, 33, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm. An arrest warrant was also executed for Johnson for aggravated robbery. Authorities found the man, along with 12 other people, unloading stolen pallets of chicken valued at $250,000.
Quantrivious Shavers, 25, and Jessie Moore, 37, members of the group, were charged with felony possession of a handgun. Officers recovered three handguns from the incident as well as fentanyl and cocaine.
The driver of the truck, Robert Wilson, reportedly stated that he had brought the massive chicken haul as payment to Johnson to cover a drug debt.
Memphis cargo theft incidents have spiked by 27% since 2025. The city is one of the few U.S. freight hubs where cargo theft continues to rise while the national total drops.
According to MPD, twelve people were taken into custody and charged:
Javunte Johnson, 33, aggravated robbery, theft of property $60,000-$250,000, and convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
Robert Wilson, 56, theft of property $60,000-$250,000 and evading arrest.
Quantrivious Shavers, 25, theft of property $60,000-$250,000, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture/deliver/sell, to wit: fentanyl.
Samuel Jackson, 38, theft of property $60,000-$250,000 and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture/deliver/sell, to wit: cocaine.
John Shipp, 47, theft of property $60,000-$250,000.
Rico Jackson, 36, theft of property $60,000-$250,000.
Devean Hoyle, 45, theft of property $60,000-$250,000.
Trashawn Featherson, 35, theft of property $60,000-$250,000.
Robert Dishmon, 40, theft of property $60,000-$250,000.
Marcellous McKinney, 38, theft of property $60,000-$250,000 and Evading Arrest.
Jessie Moore, 37, was arrested and charged with convicted felon in possession of a handgun and evading arrest, to wit: foot pursuit.
Alexis Pike, 21, was arrested and charged with evading arrest, to wit: foot pursuit, and theft of property less than $ 1,000 (X2).
The theft highlights stubborn criminal activity within certain enclaves of the US (largely Democrat run cities) despite the overall trend of falling crime rates nationally. The details of the criminals aside, it's good to know that chicken has such a lucrative street value if one is ever deep in drug debt.
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